Friday, December 26, 2014

The Boise State football team flew to Phoenix, Arizona today to begin preparations for the December 31st Fiesta Bowl date with Arizona. The Broncos (11-2), which improved dramatically over last year's 8-5 Boise State team, will be making their third appearance in the Fiesta Bowl, following the famous 2007 game with Oklahoma and the 2011 matchup with another team currently in the Big 12, TCU. Boise State is tied for 10th for the most appearances in major bowl games in the last ten years.Meanwhile, Arizona, which enjoyed its third straight winning season, and seventh in the last 17 seasons, will be making its first appearance in a major bowl since 1993, also at the Fiesta Bowl. The Wildcats, 10-3 on the season, are one of only three teams in the nation to defeat one of this year's playoff teams, with a 31-24 victory over #2 Oregon in Eugene. Beating the Ducks on their home turf is not an easily accomplishment--in fact, Arizona, Boise State, Stanford, and USC are the only teams to do it in the last seven years. Arizona won the PAC-12 South Division, but then were clobbered by Oregon 51-13 in the championship game. The Fiesta Bowl teams have one common opponent--Nevada, and both Boise State and Arizona won narrow games over the Wolf Pack. Arizona topped Nevada 35-28 in September, and Boise State beat them 51-46 two weeks later. The Wildcats also lost to UCLA and USC, and own impressive wins over #15 Arizona State and #22 UtahKickoff for the 2014 Fiesta Bowl is set for 2 p.m. Mountain time on New Year's Eve.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

There will be at least six former Boise State players in the NFL playoffs this year, with San Diego and Carolina needing wins this weekend to get in. Detroit, of course, has wasted superstar Kellen Moore's talent, with Moore not playing a down in the NFL and putting him on the "inactive list". Generally, a team that wins the Super Bowl gives a ring to inactive players, but that is up to the team. Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe is on the "reserve" list for San Diego, and would also likely get a ring if the Chargers were to capture the title. Injured players, such as Richie Brockel of Carolina, also would likely get a ring if their team won the Super Bowl.With those three players not on the active lists for their teams but still eligible for Super Bowl rings, here are the six that have consistently played for their playoff teams this season:Ryan Clady, starting tackle for Denver, which is the AFC West Champion and can clinch a first-round bye with a win this weekend. Clady will once again play in the Pro Bowl this year.George Iloka, starting safety for Cincinnati. The Bengals are the AFC North Champions, and can clinch a first-round bye with a win and a Denver loss or tie.Jeron Johnson, reserve safety for Seattle. The Seahawks clinched the NFC West, and can clinch a first-round bye this weekend. Boise State has three players on the playoff-bound Dallas Cowboys, a record for the most Broncos on a playoff team:Orlando Scandrick, starting cornerback, has enjoyed a superb year.Defensive end Tyrone Crawford is the starter for Dallas at left defensive end.Defensive end Demarcus Lawrence was bothered by a preseason injury, but has come back to contribute to the Cowboys' division championship season.Dallas wrapped up the NFC East title, and still have a shot at a first-round bye, but they would need both Seattle and Arizona to either lose or tie in the final week.

Richie Brockel--on injured reserve and is out for the season.Ryan Clady--starting tackle in Denver loss.Daryn Colledge--starting guard for Miami in their win.Tyrone Crawford--one solo tackle and a tackle for loss in Dallas victory.George Iloka--starting safety with two tackles and a pass deflection as Cincinnati upset Denver.Jeron Johnson--one solo tackle in Seattle win.Demarcus Lawrence--1 tackle as Dallas clinched the NFC East title.Charles Leno--lineman played in Bear loss.Doug Martin--10 rushes for 17 yards in Tampa Bay loss.Shea McClellin--one solo tackle in Bear loss.Kellen Moore--inactive as Detroit won.Orlando Scandrick--six tackles, five of them solo, with a sack in Dallas win.Jamar Taylor--3 solo tackles and a tackle for loss in Miami win.Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe--no statistics in Charger win.Kyle Wilson--no stats in Jet loss.Billy Winn--starting lineman with one tackle, an interception, and a pass deflection in Cleveland loss.

Tuesday, December 16, 2014

Richie Brockel--on injured reserve and is out for the season.Ryan Clady--starting tackle in Denver victory.Daryn Colledge--starting guard for Miami in their defeat.Tyrone Crawford--two tackles, both solo, with two sacks, in Dallas victory.George Iloka--starting safety with three tackles, 2 of them solo, in Cincinnati win.Jeron Johnson--two tackles, one of them solo, as Seattle knocked Colin Kaepernick and San Francisco out of the playoff picture.Demarcus Lawrence--no stats in Dallas win.Charles Leno--lineman played in Bear loss.Doug Martin--enjoyed one of his best games of the season with 14 carries for 96 yards and a reception for 3 yards in Buccaneer loss.Shea McClellin--three solo tackles in Chicago loss.Kellen Moore--inactive as Detroit won.Orlando Scandrick--one solo tackle in Dallas win.Jamar Taylor--no stats in Miami loss.Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe--no statistics in Charger loss.Kyle Wilson--no statistics in Jet win.Billy Winn--starting lineman with four tackles, three of them solo, and a tackle for loss in Cleveland defeat.

Senior standout safety Darian Thompson was named Second Team All-American by CBS Sports.com.

Thompson has intercepted seven passes this season, third in the nation, one of which he returned 36 yards for a touchdown. Darian also has 61 tackles, 44 of them solo, both second on the Boise State defense.

Thompson is tied with Ken Johnson and Marty Tadman for sixth all-time with 14 career picks.

Tuesday, December 9, 2014

Richie Brockel--on injured reserve and is out for the season.Ryan Clady--starting tackle in Denver victory.Daryn Colledge--starting guard for Miami in their loss.Tyrone Crawford--one solo tackle in Cowboy victory.George Iloka--starting safety with six tackles, with four solo, in Bengal loss.Jeron Johnson--no statistics in Seattle win.Demarcus Lawrence--no statistics in Dallas win.Charles Leno--lineman played in Bear loss.Doug Martin--5 carries for 22 yards and one reception for no yards in Tampa Bay loss.Shea McClellin--6 tackles, 1 solo, and one tackle for loss in Bear defeat.Kellen Moore--inactive as Detroit won.Orlando Scandrick--9 solo tackles, 2nd on the team, with a tackle for loss, an interception, and a pass deflection in Dallas win.Jamar Taylor--no stats in Miami loss.Ricky Tjong-A-Tjoe--no statistics in Charger loss.Kyle Wilson--1 solo tackle in Jet loss.Billy Winn--starting lineman with two tackles, one of them solo, in Cleveland loss.

Monday, December 8, 2014

Boise State head coach Bryan Harsin, who turned around the fortunes of the Broncos this season, has been named a finalist for the Eddie Robinson Coach of the Year Award.Other finalists for the award include Art Briles (Baylor), Jimbo Fisher (Florida State), Justin Fuente (Memphis), Mark Helfrich (Oregon), Urban Meyer (Ohio State), Gary Patterson (TCU) and Nick Saban (Alabama).

Boise State already owns most of the modern records for victories, but the 2014 Boise State team helped the Broncos top their own modern mark for wins in a 13-year period.

The 2002-2012 Boise State teams were 147-21, but with last night's victory over Fresno State, the Broncos are 148-22 from 2002-2014. Two other schools in the list below also beat their previous school records. Oregon improved their school record this season and also advanced to #24 all-time, and Georgia has improved their 13-year record with their current season. The owners of all three current streaks in the list have one more game to play this season.

The 2014 Boise State football team has taken us on an amazing ride, and it isn't over yet.

Boise State jumped to a 21-0 halftime lead, and then held on to defeat rival Fresno State 28-14 and capture its first Mountain West Conference championship last night at Albertsons Stadium in Boise.

Grant Hedrick threw for 155 yards and ran for a team-leading 81 yards to lead the Broncos to victory. Boise State (11-2) earned the highest ranking for a "Group of 5" team (the "non-elite" conferences) and will play Arizona in the Fiesta Bowl on New Year's Eve.

Hedrick got Boise State on the board with their first drive, scoring on a 20-yard keeper. Linebacker Tanner Vallejo stepped in front of a Brian Burrell pass and scored on a 63-yard interception return with 1:56 remaining in the quarter. Star running back Jay Ajayi carried defenders with him as he scored from nine yards out midway through the second quarter.

Boise State then extended their lead to 28-0 on a 21-yard run from Hedrick, and was seemingly in command after a punt pinned FSU on their own six-yard line. But Burrell threaded the Bronco secondary with numerous completions over the middle of the field, and 19-plays later, Josh Quezada bulled over from the two-yard line to give Fresno State their first score.

Although the Bronco defense continued to allow the passes over the middle, they allowed just one more Bulldog score, a TD strike from Burrell to Greg Watson with 5:31 remaining.

Charles Washington recovered the ensuing onsides kickoff, but a 15-yard penalty and a sack by Sam McCaskill hampered the Bulldog drive, and a fourth down pass from Burrell to Aaron Peck fell incomplete just short of the goal line.

The Bulldogs held Boise State to a three-and-out, however, and after receiving a punt advanced the ball to the Bronco 34. But on third down, defensive end Beau Martin jumped up to intercept a Burrell pass to the flats, and the Broncos clinched their third Fiesta Bowl berth in the last nine years.

Fresno State controlled the ball, converting on an incredible 11 of 23 third-down opportunities to keep the Boise State offense on the sidelines. The Bulldogs outgained Boise State 378-300, but three turnovers cost Fresno State dearly (Donte Deayon also intercepted a pass in the end zone to halt a Bulldog threat in the first quarter.)

Hedrick finished 9-16 passing, and surpassed season totals by Taylor Tharp and Bart Hendricks to move into sixth place all-time at Boise State with 3,368 yards. (See chart at the end of this article.)

The Bulldog defense keyed on star running back Jay Ajayi and held him to 70 yards on 22 carries, but Ajayi did get in the end zone for Boise State's second touchdown of the game. Ajayi and Hedrick broke the school record for most rushing yards a by a duo in a single season with 2,252. Ajayi tied Ian Johnson for second in rushing TD's in a season with 25.Passing Yards, Season1. Ryan Dinwiddie (4,356) 2003

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About Me

I have been a fan of Boise State since 1968. In 1975, I won a national Quill & Scroll award for Best Feature Writing. I graduated from Boise State in 1986 with a B.B.A. in Management. Since that time, I have researched and published several articles about the Broncos and have helped to raise $200,000 for the school as well as to sell out season football tickets and various other projects.